The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-29
Open Letter to Hon. Allen collars.

Hon Allen collars. Justice Supreme Court:
Dear Sir-The Journal of the 10th reports
you as saying, in your speech before the Baptist
congress held in this city. that Henry George
advocates the vesting of all title to the land of
tho country in the hands of the government, and
by it rented out in small parcels to the people.
If this was the tenor of your remarks upon
this point, beg leave to inform you that you
are in error-grievously so. 1t is my impression
that your nisconception Of Mr.. Georges doc
trine, land it is the vital point wherein you errl
was drawn from the following passage in
Progress and Poverty" page POI:
1--WE should satisfy justice. should meet
all economic requirements, by at one stroke
abolishing all private titles, declaring all land
public property, and letting it out to the highest
bidders in lots to suit, under such conditions as
would sacredly guard the private right to i'm
provements"
This you will see, merely states what might
be done with perfect justice, but further he
says:
''But such plan, though perfectly feasible,
does not seem to the best. Or, rather,
propose to accomplish the same thing The
should have said the same results that would
flow from such a counsel in simpler easier
and quieter way than that of formally eonfs
eating all the land and formally letting it out to
the highest bidders"
'To do that would involve a needless shock to
present customs and habits of thought, which
is to be avoided
ITO do that would involve a needless extern
sion of governmental machinery, which is to be
avoided"
Now follows the Henry George doctrine.
There are not so many visions of ghostly reyo-
utions in it the people are led to believe, once
Its simplicity is fully comprehended. 1t would
jure one but the land Spectator. and he, like
the slave-owner. is derrimeut to society, and
should be Invested of his privilege of specializing
in the necessities-the prime necessities-of hui
mainly. Mr. George says: II do not propose
either to purchase or to confiscate private prop
erty in and2 The first would be unjust; the
second needless Let the individuals who now
hold it still retain, if they want to, possession
of what they are pleased to call THEIR land. Let
them continue to call it THEIR land. Let them
buy and sell, and beaueath and devise it.
''Nor to take rent for public uses is it neces
sarv that the State should bother with the let
ling of lands, and assume the chances of the ia
voritism. collision and corruption that might
involve. 1t is not necessary that any new ma
chinery should be created. The machinery al
ready exists. Instead of extending it, all We
have do is to simplify and reduce it.
I'VE already take some rent in taxation. We
have only to make some changes in our modes of
taxation to take It all +"
Then Mr. George goes on to say that he would
have the government appropriate rent 1.-THE IN
earned value created by the growth of a commu-
nity) bv taxation. This value attaches more
less all over the country, according to location.
and exists irrespective of I'm provements, and not
withstandinc your assertion that such a system
would be of value to any one. am con-
strained to believe that you are mistaken and
that the results named by Mr.. George would fol-
low viz. "Raise wages, increase the earnings of
capital. extrpate pauperism abolish poverty.
give remunerative employment to whoever
wishes 1t, afford free scope to human powers.
lessen crime elevate morals, and taste, and in
tellleence, purify government and carry civIliza-
ton to yet nobler heights. l also believe that
this simple system of taxation will be the frui-
tion of that passage in the Scriptures where it
says, in substance, The heavens and the glory
tn ereof belong to the Lord. but the earth hath
He given to the children of men,
Also that it will result in the realization of
the truthfulness of the ninth OF the fifth
chapter of Ecclesisstes, which says More
over the pr fit of the earth is for all. ~
Notwithstanding Hon. Mr. Dooiittles assertion
before the ministers that Mr.. Georges doctrine,
to be put in force would require constitutional
amendments, both national and State. stand
ready to prove that such is not the case,
closely and unequivocally. Now, to close, il the
Malthusiau doctrine is correct. and it seems to
have been the generally accepted theory. until